As you get older, you can look back and remember people who taught you lessons in life, and you tend not to forget them.  For me, Ken Orrock was one of those people, and his name popped up in the news today:

Kenneth Orrock was Bennett County state’s attorney before being charged in federal court for failing to collect and remit payroll taxes from 2011 through 2015. The charges didn’t relate to his practice of law, but to his security company, called Black Hills Patrol. He was given a five-year probation sentence and ordered to pay $280,000 in restitution after pleading guilty. He was released from probation after three years.

On Wednesday, Orrock appeared before the state Supreme Court in Pierre to ask for limited readmission to the bar. The bar’s disciplinary board heard from Orrock earlier this year and recommended readmission on several conditions, among them limiting Orrock’s practice to criminal law and requiring him to retake and pass the bar exam.

Read that here at South Dakota Searchlight.

That’s a name I remember, as it was the first, and maybe the only bad debt I’ve had to write off in my postcard business.    Back in May of 2016, I had been been selling campaign materials for a while, and I was asked to design/print/mail a postcard for Orrock in his race for Bennett County State’s Attorney. Which when it came time for the bill, it was ignored.   It wasn’t much, about $165, but after being ghosted long enough, as well as noting his legal troubles, you have to decide how much energy a person is going to put into trying to collect a $165 bill across the state.

I wrote that debt off over 7 years ago now, but the the lesson I learned sticks with me. Cash up front in political races if you don’t know the person.  You’d think you could trust elected officials, but it turns out that there’s always one who spoils it for the rest.

Getting back to Orrock’s latest appearance in the news, if you read the article, his attorney Jim Sword is vouching for his “his growth as a person” since he got stomped on by the Federal court for failing to pay payroll taxes to the tune of $300k. But, the court isn’t so sure they agree..

Chief Justice Steven Jensen said it was clear to him that Orrock had done a great deal of work on himself since his conviction, but also asked about complaints from before the charges appeared in 2017. Orrock had seven complaints lodged against him, some of which were later expunged, with others leading to reprimand. That’s more than usual, Jensen said.

and..

His ability to act as a court-appointed attorney, however, could help relieve the burden caused in the Rapid City area by a dearth of criminal lawyers.

“Many of the court appointed attorneys that I’ve been able to speak to in the last several months have just been overwhelmed,” Orrock said. “As a matter of fact, one told me last week he’s stopping to take them because he can’t do it any more.”

Same citation..

The back and forth, as well as my own experience leads a person to ask, “are they really THAT hard up for attorneys in South Dakota?”

Patrick Schubert, who ran for US Senate against Senator John Thune for about 10 minutes in the 2022 has apparently set his sights on the 2024 Congressional race.

Schubert Congress by Pat Powers on Scribd

Schubert of Box Elder, who announced his candidacy for US Senate around this time in 2021 via a overly long and rambling press release, has been living in Rapid City for the last decade, and managed to raise around $1200 in his run against Senator Thune. However, Schubert failed to collect sufficient signatures to get on the ballot, and was done by the end of March in 2022.

I imagine he’s going to do about the same in this election.

August has been a busy month! Every year, Congress has an extended “district work period.” It’s a time where members of Congress stop traveling back and forth to Washington and spend August in their home state to attend events or much-needed meetings, visit with constituents at fairs, sit down with business owners and community leaders, and host town halls. This time in the state helps us hear firsthand what is happening in communities big and small. Some may see August as a break from Congress doing their work, but it is filled with important meetings across the state to connect with South Dakotans.

I’ve been all across the state, from Hot Springs to Webster, North Sioux City to Newell—it’s easy to say I’ve spent a lot of time in the car. A day in each town is jam packed with events. One of my favorites is celebrating South Dakota agriculture at Dakotafest. I shared an update on the Farm Bill during South Dakota Farm Bureau’s Congressional forum, served lunch, and met producers from across the state who work hard day in and day out to provide quality products for Americans.

This August, I’ve hosted several Vietnam veteran pinning ceremonies, giving Vietnam veterans a proper thank you and welcome home. More than 100 Vietnam veterans have gathered at these ceremonies, bringing the total number of Vietnam veterans I have honored to almost 900 since I started the program in 2019.

At the beginning of the month, I spoke at the Naturalization Ceremony in Sioux Falls. It was a privilege to congratulate new citizens on completing the citizenship process. These individuals bring unique talents to our state and I’m grateful for their decision to call South Dakota, and America, home.

I’ve met with dozens of business leaders, community leaders, students, and health care workers. They keep me updated on what is going on in each community, any needs they have, and progress on community and business improvements.

The time I spend going from town to town allows me to best represent you in Washington D.C. – I’m looking forward to a productive fall when Congress is back in session.

###

Had an interesting rumor from the field today from a tipster:

Minnehaha County Auditor Anderson has hired Mike Mathis (with SD Canvassing Group) as her new Elections Coordinator. She secured Mike a starting pay two pay classes higher than election previous coordinators. 

We’ll be able to confirm this pretty quickly as soon as it rolls through the County Commission so we can compare what the new coordinator is making in comparison to the old one. But the part that’s far more concerning is where Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson is said to be using to tap for her talent.

Mathis (Pictured to the left) was active in the SD Canvassing group, where in the linked clip he was claiming that he has “no confidence” in the elections.

If you’re not familiar with the SD Canvassing Group, it’s hard to deny that they’re a bit …on the fringe with their election beliefs:

Early into our research, we realized the Federal Election Laws like the NVRA and HAVA weren’t for the good of the States, or the integrity of the vote. Neither was the Patriot Act. Federal interference comes with Federal funds, which come with strings attached. Then, pick your favorite three letter agency and how they meddle in United States (s)elections. You may or may not know that the US perfected the election steal on other countries before using it on us.

and..

South Dakota has lost control of it’s elections. It’s death by 1,000 cuts. 

Read that on one of SD Canvassing’s websites.

And it’s not as if Anderson has distanced herself from the elections conspiracists.

Better saddle up for the ride, I’m sure we will hear more about it very shortly.

Despite Jennifer Slaight-Hansen’s exercise in futility to stop her removal as party chair, I notice that South Dakota Democrats have already expunged her from their website, instead noting the leadership of their interim chair:

I guess we know how that appeal is going to turn out.

Final Explanation Released for Draft Initiated Measure That Would Legalize Recreational Marijuana

PIERRE, S.D. – The final ballot explanation for a draft initiated measure that would legalize recreational marijuana, proposed by Matthew Schweich of Sioux Falls, has been released by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General Marty Jackley takes no position on any such proposal for purposes of the ballot explanation. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation of the proposed initiated measure to help assist the voters.

This proposed initiated measure would allow individuals 21 years old or older to possess, grow, ingest, and distribute marijuana for recreational purposes. The initiated measure does not affect laws dealing with hemp. The measure also does not change State laws concerning the State’s medical marijuana program. 

The final ballot explanation can be found here.

State law requires the Attorney General draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot. The Attorney General’s explanation is meant to be an “objective, clear, and simple summary” intended to “educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed” measure, as well as identify the “legal consequences” of each measure.

If the required 17,509 valid signatures are gathered and approved by the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office, the proposed constitutional amendment will be placed on the 2024 general ballot. A majority of the votes cast in the general election will be needed to pass the measure.

The Attorney General’s explanation was drafted after a review of all the comments received during the proposed amendment’s 10-day comment period. A total of 15 comments were received.

For more information regarding ballot measures, please visit the Secretary of State’s website.

-30-

Ltr. MJJ Final Initiated Measure Legal. Rec. Use Possession and Distrib Marijuana by Pat Powers on Scribd

Better get them while they’re hot.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has released a limited edition bobblehead commemorating South Dakota State University’s championship win last year in Football.

According to the sale listing:

This bobblehead celebrates the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 2022 FCS National Championship. It features Jack the Jackrabbit, the official mascot of South Dakota State University. On Sunday, January 8th, 2023, the Jackrabbits captured their first National Championship in program history when they defeated NDSU 45-21 in Frisco, Texas. The bobblehead is officially licensed by SDSU.

• • In stock and ships now
  • Bobblehead is high quality and produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
  • 8 inches tall
  • Individually numbered to 2,023

You can purchase the exclusive bobblehead here for $40 each. (While supplies last.)

JOIN US and become a Campaign Cowboy at our SDGOP x @GOP training Friday, September 8th at the Courtyard Marriott in Box Elder, SD.

Register at the link below and we’ll see you at 9AM sharp!

➡️ https://t.co/dwskpF2CX9 pic.twitter.com/CGxUPfOy6J

— South Dakota GOP (@SDGOP) August 29, 2023

Attorney General Jackley Announces Availability Of New Consumer Alert System

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the public can now receive Consumer Alerts via email from the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. The new system became operational Wednesday.

“This new alert system is another way that the Attorney General’s Office and its Consumer Protection Division are working to keep people aware of the most recent scams that affect them or their loved ones,” said Attorney General Jackley. “This alert system will provide the subscribers with information about consumer scams as well as tips on how to protect against scams.”

People can register for the alerts at the Consumer Protection Division’s website at www.consumer.sd.gov or at by stopping at the Division’s booth in the Expo Building at the State Fair this week in Huron. No email addresses will be shared or sold to a third party.

People are reminded to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or consumerhelp@state.sd.us if they have any information about a possible consumer scam or fraud.

-30-

Let’s mark this one down in the useless exercise column as the unanimously ousted State Democrat Party Chair Jennifer Slaight-Hansen is trying to appeal being thrown out of office to many of the people who tossed her out on her tail:

The committee, approved Tuesday morning by the state party’s executive board, will have 13 days to either approve or reject the appeal of Jennifer Slaight-Hansen. If rejected, an election for a new chair would be held Sept. 16 during the Democratic Roundup in Rapid City.

Slaight-Hansen was recalled from her position Aug. 19 by a vote of 57 ayes and two abstentions a few months after she began her role in April.

Read the entire story here in the Argus Leader.

I just don’t think this dog is going to hunt.